A Qualitative Study of Nonmedical Prescription Stimulant Use

描述(由申请人提供)：我们提出了一个为期36个月的项目，对旧金山的非药物处方兴奋剂使用者进行QUAL/QUA混合方法研究。我们将“非医疗处方兴奋剂使用”定义为以处方以外的方式使用处方兴奋剂，包括用于提高认知能力、娱乐目的，或用于ADHD类型或其他问题的自我药物治疗。大学生使用处方兴奋剂的非医疗用途已经有了很好的记录。到目前为止，研究忽略了使用非药物处方兴奋剂作为工作或娱乐表现增强剂的整个非学生群体。我们不知道的是，老年人是如何非医学地使用处方兴奋剂的。因此，我们将对三个年龄段的非药物处方兴奋剂使用者的体验进行QUAL/QUA混合方法研究。使用适应性交叉性理论框架，我们将对150名参与者进行深入的定性访谈。50名年龄在18-25岁之间，50名26-45岁之间的人 ADHD药物接受者的第一批(从1994年开始)，以及50名46岁及以上的患者。所有参与者在面谈前的12个月内至少使用过6次非药物兴奋剂处方药。我们将审查处方兴奋剂的类型以及其他处方药和/或街头毒品或酒精的使用情况，以对抗或增强处方兴奋剂的效果。我们将探索个体因素的交集，包括有助于决定非医疗使用处方药的生命阶段和社会位置、使用动机、关于使用处方药的风险和好处的知识、所经历的任何不良健康或社会后果、处方药的可获得性和转移性、与非医疗处方药使用相关的态度和行为的差异以及不同年龄段之间关于上述所有方面的差异。研究结果将有助于我们理解使用者的体验，包括使用动机、决策过程、风险感知、使用的健康和社会后果、处方兴奋剂的来源以及年龄队列对上述所有方面的影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose a 36-month project to conduct a QUAL/quan mixed methods study of nonmedical prescription stimulant users in San Francisco. We define "nonmedical prescription stimulant use" as the use of prescription stimulants in a manner other than prescribed, including use for cognitive performance enhancement, recreational purposes, or to self-medicate for ADHD-type or other problems. Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among college students has been well documented. To date, research studies ignore an entire population of non students who use nonmedical prescription stimulants as performance enhancers for work or recreation. What we do not know is how older adults use prescription stimulants nonmedically. Thus, we will conduct a QUAL/quan mixed method study of the experiences of nonmedical prescription stimulant users in three age cohorts. Using an adaptive intersectionality theoretical framework, we will conduct in-depth qualitative interviews with 150 participants. Fifty will be between 18 - 25 years of age, fifty 26 - 45 year olds who make up the first cohort (beginning in 1994) of recipients of ADHD medications, and fifty who are 46 and older. All participants will have used prescription stimulants nonmedically at least six times in the twelve months prior to interview. We will examine the types of prescription stimulants and the use of other prescription drugs and/or street drugs or alcohol to counter or enhance the effects of prescription stimulants. We will explore the intersection of individual factors, includig life stage and social location that contribute to decisions to use prescription stimulants nonmedically, motivations to use, knowledge about risks and benefits of prescription stimulant use, any adverse health or social consequences experienced, availability and diversion of prescription stimulants, differences in attitudes and behaviors relating to nonmedical prescription stimulant use and differences among the various age groups concerning all of the above. Findings will contribute to our understandings of users' experiences, including motivations to use, decision-making processes, perceptions of risk, health and social consequences of use, sources of prescription stimulants, and impact of age cohort on all of the above.